AIUK47 no. 3 Sundial

Sundial

AIUK 4.7 (BM, Miscellaneous) no. 3 Date: ca. 400 AD (?)

Phaidros son of Zoilos of Paiania^[1] made it or had it made.^[2]

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Greek text

References:

AIUK 4.7 (BM, Miscellaneous) no. 3 (Translated text) (AIO)

IG II² 5208 (PHI)

IG II² 5 13627 (IG Online) (PHI)

GIBM I 72

Translation by: Peter Liddel, Polly Low

AIO Images:

Monument type: Sundial

Inscription type: Artist's signature

Elgin collection - Findspot: Little Metropolis Church (BM 1816,0610.186)

Transliterations on Places on

[1] This sundial derived from the Elgin collection; it was included in the sale of the "Elgin marbles" to the British Museum in 1816 (cf. AIUK 4.1, no. 2 with notes). Its inscription is carved onto the lower part of a sundial with four engraved vertical plane faces, forming an open W-shape, intended to resemble an open book. The sundial would have originally included three metal fittings (gnomons); which would have cast shadows over the engraved lines, indicating both the hour of the day and the distance to the equinoxes and to the winter and summer solstices. The non-engraved rear face of the sundial bears representations of chariot wheels, perhaps intended to commemorate victory in a sporting competition, or perhaps alluding to the movements of celestial bodies around the sun. The proposed date is based primarily on the lettering of the inscription. It is rare for an inscription of this date to include the patronymic and demotic; Phaidros' decision to record these elements of his name may reflect his wish to leave a legacy, or might indicate an awareness of, and desire to emulate, the tradition of artists' signatures. Phaidros is also known from a dedication (IG II² 5, 13292) set up in the Theatre of Dionysos, which commemorates his building (or perhaps commissioning) of the theatre stage and specifies that he held the office of archon. [2] The implications of this verb are ambiguous. It could be that Phaidros is claiming that he was the creator of the sundial. However, particularly given his holding of the (high-status) office of archon, it is more likely that he commissioned the sundial rather than crafting it himself. For more detailed discussion of this inscription see AIUK 4.7 (BM, Miscellaneous), no. 3.

Added: 23 Jun 2026
Updated: 23 Jun 2026
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